Booth Update: Riverbend

17 this morning, clear and sunny. We got another inch of snow yesterday, which was supposed to be rain but the temperature never for above 32F/0C. 

Packing for my trip today. I can't believe it's actually happening, but so far so good. Packing plenty of masks and hand sanitizer, you can believe. Also 2 books for on the plane, and my lemon ginger teabags because that's my go-to drink every morning, and often every afternoon as well. And I have yet to find a brand I like as well as the Yogi brand of this tea. Do we get pickier about some things as we age? I think so.

I worked at the antique mall yesterday and took some photos while I was there. We had few customers, but thankfully they were shoppers so the day turned out to be fairly good despite the low numbers. Only one man of all that came in was without a mask. People are taking this virus seriously now, it seems.

So, here's the photos.

Yesterday I sold the stone wheel grinder that was in front here, so I did a little rearranging to fill the space.

We changed up the wall the other day, adding the big metal fish, tobacco basket and other things.

I've added several wreaths and Spring floral arrangements the past week or so. I'm hoping people are feeling like changing over their winter decor soon.

Ready to travel--a lady's vintage hat, suitcase, and lace gloves.

This is a reproduction tobacco basket, a good bit smaller and lighter--and cheaper--than the real thing.

Cute little stool we picked up the other day, using metal backsplash for the top.

This pretty chair came from Ohio, The picture doesn't show it, but the fabric is yellow and blue, very French Country look. The back is yellow stripes. 

A picnic basket, fully equipped, with some graniteware displayed in it.

More flowers, LOL. Maybe I'm the one needing the Spring-y look?

Any NASCAR fans here? I'm not but there are plenty of people who are.

A customer was asking for a Coleman stove last week. I had one, but at my other booth, so I moved it here in case he returns. The Hoosier cabinet in the background is on lay-away, as are several other pieces in my booths, but all will be picked up soon.

These little boxes were part of a lot we picked up earlier this week. I think this "Primitive" craze is slowly dying out in our area, and has probably already passed in many places. But there are still buyers looking for it.

I do love this vanity. We moved it into the booth a couple of weeks ago, one of those rare pieces that needed no work at all, just some polishing up.

Rolling pins--how did I accumulate so many?? But here they all are, and they sell pretty well.

I call this the "Bird Table". Lots of bird-themed items here, and some have already sold.

Another piece from the lot we picked up this week, a pierced tin lantern lamp.

Quilts and pillows and tablecloths--I have a buyer interested in the cabinet but it may be a while before she buys it, as she's looking for a house, and you know how long all that takes. No worries though, it's still a great display piece.

Shutters and windows are still steady sellers. We pick them up whenever we can find them reasonably priced.

I saw a cabinet almost identical to this one, listed for well over 300.00 our price is a LOT lower than that, about 50% lower. I love it for display, even if we never sell it.

Lots and lots of smalls--our last check from this mall was all from sales of smalls, except for a couple layaway payments. Smalls make the rent, so the saying goes in this business.

Costume jewelry sells steadily too, as long as it's priced low. I've found these hooks in the pegboard to be a good way of showcasing necklaces and bracelets.

A snowy street outside. The snow blew all day yesterday, but didn't accumulate on the roads.

It was cold out there, but warm inside.

Let's hope I hitch some of that California sunshine and warmth to the plane and drag it home with me!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Into the Holidays, and Some Booth Pics

28 this morning, all frosty and cold. We had some light snow flurries yesterday, enough to leave snow on the roof of my van and the truck, and on the deck, but it soon melted. The day never warmed much, very cold, cloudy and windy.

Yesterday's little touch of snow on the deck. It's certainly time for some wintry weather.

Thanksgiving evening was so nice, a good relaxed time with our son and his daughters and the boyfriend of one of them, just sitting by the fire and talking. 

We took it a bit easy yesterday, taking more things to the antique mall and picking up a van-full of inventory from a friend who has left the reselling business. It was a pig in a poke kind of buy, because almost everything was packed up in boxes so I had no idea what I was buying. But I trust this friend to sell me things that are worthwhile. Yesterday evening I started unpacking some of it. Lots of nice teacups, a good vintage globe, and lots of other things that will sell in our booths or on eBay. Some will go to the thrifts because they just won't do well for me, but overall it's been a fun treasure hunt.

I'll be cooking down the turkey carcass into bone broth today, too, and doing some eBay listings as usual. It's going to be a cold, cold day, so inside work is called for. The fridge is full of leftovers so no need to cook, that's for sure.

The news about a new coronavirus variant isn't surprising, but disappointing. I believe we will continue to have these variants, very much like the flu, but the scientists are on it and I feel sure they will continue to come up with vaccines as they do each year for the different strains of flu. In the meantime, it's masking as usual. At least in cold weather the mask isn't uncomfortable. 

It's time for Christmas cards, too. Do you still send them? I continue the tradition, feeling a connection to each person as I write out the cards. I haven't included a letter in years, but since we see people so seldom any more, maybe this is the year to send along a note in the cards. Will you be sending a letter, or do you find them annoying? I enjoy the newsy ones, not so much the braggy ones.

Small Business Saturday today tempts me to go out and shop, but with a full day ahead, I'll save that for another day. There are some places I certainly want to visit. We don't get crazy with gifts, with such a large family and such a small income, but it's always fun to find or make just the right things for our loved ones. I've already got a few things, like homemade vanilla, ready to go. But definitely it's time to get hopping.

I don't think I've posted many photos lately of our booths. Here's some of the changes at the Ravenswood booth.

I do love this sweet little table and chairs, but I must be the only one, as there's been no interest in it--yet. 

Shawnee Pottery's Puss 'n' Boots pieces.

The buffet sold the other day, and is just awaiting pickup.

A jewelry tree--why not? I've sold quite a few items from it since this photo was taken.

We almost kept this cedar chest. It's the perfect size for toys, but we decided that we really didn't need it, so...

I wish I'd taken this when I had the lights on. I'll have to try again when I'm there tomorrow.

The display keeps changing as we sell things from the window. The sled left yesterday.

I was surprised how many Prince Albert cans I had. I used to buy them whenever I found them reasonably priced as I needed one for a story I used to tell. 

More photos later. Time to get back to eBay listings.

Booth Talk

63 this morning, so pleasant. A bit cloudy now with a strong breeze.

I've worked at the antique mall a couple days lately, so when there are no customers in the store I have time to work on my booths. I've also been doing a little painting the past couple weeks so there are a few new pieces in the booths. Here's a look. 

This is my latest finished project. This one was fun to do. The veneer on top had to be removed because of water damage, but the wood under it was solid and fine.

Pale pink tea table. This one was wobbly as can be, but Larry soon put that right.

The credenza was dark walnut color, but sat in the booth with no one interested in it for months. So home it came for a coat of a pretty teal color. This is Dixie Belle chalk paint; we have a new vendor in the mall selling this paint, and I like it very much. The table above is also painted with Dixie Belle, but the checked table is my old favorite, General Finishes milk paint.

Another table with a water-damaged plant, this one from someone having a houseplant sitting on it. This paint is Dixie Belle's Kudzu color--don't you love that name?

This is the second of two plant stands Larry made with the leaves of a porcelain top table. The table's base was rotted away, so we used the main part of the top on one project, and the leaves to make these narrow stands.

Fall has certainly fallen in our area--and into our decor too.

Not much fall on this display though, just cottagecore, as they call the shabby chic look these days.

I've been thinning down my glass collection at home, as you can see here.

Some primitive items for the farmhouse/country style.

This little shelf was one of those "why did we bother" projects. A lot of time and effort to try to make this look better than a sow's ear, but I'm not sure we succeeded. Ah well.

Pyrex sales seem to have slowed down in our area. 

Sweet little tea cart, looking for a new home. 

Stuff and more stuff--sales continue to be strong and that makes me happy. I'm at work on two or three more pieces now, so hoping a few things sell so there will be room for them.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.